Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 18, Shloka 52

Adhyaya 18 — Arjuna Declines the Throne; Garga Directs Him to Dattatreya; The Gods Defeat the Daityas through Dattatreya’s Vision and the Movement of Lakshmi

Sanskrit

सृष्टानुवाक्यलावण्यमाज्ञामवितथां तथा ।

मुखसंस्था कवित्वञ्च यच्छत्युदधिसम्भवा ॥

Transliteration

sṛṣṭānuvākya-lāvaṇyam ājñām avitathāṃ tathā / mukhasaṃsthā kavitvañ ca yacchaty udadhisambhavā

Translation

“Born of the ocean, when Lakṣmī abides in the mouth, She grants beauty of speech, commands that do not fail (effective authority), and also poetic talent.”

Word by Word

• sṛṣṭānuvākyalāvaṇyam: created utterance and charm (of speech)
• sṛṣṭānuvākyalāvaṇyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭa + anuvākya + lāvaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective: ‘created speech/utterance and beauty/eloquence’)

• ājñām: command/authority
• ājñām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन

• avitathām: unfalse/unfailing
• avitathām: Karma-anvaya (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vitatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ājñām)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• mukhasaṃsthā: situated in the mouth
• mukhasaṃsthā: Karta-anvaya
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukha + saṃsthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (udadhisambhavā = lakṣmīḥ)

• kavitvam: poetic talent/poetry
• kavitvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavitva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• yacchati: gives/bestows
• yacchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yam (धातु; यच्छति)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• udadhisambhavā: she who arose from the ocean (Lakṣmī)
• udadhisambhavā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udadhi + sambhavā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन; ‘समुद्रसम्भवा’ (born from the ocean)

Speakers

• Dattātreya to Devas

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "bhakti", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Dattātreya
• Lakṣmī

Shakti Aspects

• Śrī/Lakṣmī (Udadhi-sambhavā)

Key Themes

• Power of speech
• Authority
• Poetics
• Auspicious charisma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Right speech and effective leadership are treated as forms of prosperity; Lakṣmī’s ‘presence’ in speech implies that truthfulness, clarity, and beauty of expression create success.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Instructional/ethical teaching (dharma of speech and authority) within a narrative frame, not a cosmological or dynastic account.

What is the esoteric significance?

Mouth as vāg-indriya: when speech is auspicious (śubha-vāk), it becomes a vehicle of śrī—manifesting as influence, artistry, and the capacity to shape outcomes.